Anthony Sabatini

Last updated

On March 8, 2021, Sabatini announced that he would challenge incumbent Republican Representative Daniel Webster for Florida's 11th congressional district. He later suggested he might not wind up running against Webster due to redistricting. [27] On June 7, 2021, he announced he would challenge incumbent Democratic Representative Stephanie Murphy for Florida's 7th congressional district due to redistricting. [28]

Sabatini lost the 2022 Republican primary to Cory Mills in August 2022. [29]

Political positions

Gun rights

Sabatini has supported Constitutional carry legislation to allow Floridians to carry concealed firearms without first acquiring a permit. Sabatini described permit requirements as a requirement for persons "to beg government permission and pay money for the exercise of their fundamental God-given right." [30] Sabatini introduced Constitutional carry legislation in 2020, 2021, and 2022; the legislation was endorsed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis but did not pass the Republican-controlled legislature; Sabatini criticized several fellow Republicans for failing to back the bill. [31] [32]

Black Lives Matter protests

In response to the protests following the murder of George Floyd, Sabatini posted a tweet that suggested that protesters who unlawfully enter businesses would be met with an AR-15 rifle; he posted a similar suggestion on his Facebook page with the caption "Don't Tread on Me". [33] The sentiment was widely condemned, with Florida State Representative Cindy Polo deriding it as "clearly inflammatory" and "inciting violence". [34] Nikki Fried, Florida Agriculture Commissioner, called for Sabatini to be reprimanded. House Speaker José Oliva found no "direct or preemptive threat" in Sabatini's comments and did not take punitive actions. [35] Sabatini also drew criticism from Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones for referring to Black Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis as "disgusting, lawless thugs" in a tweet calling for their arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment. [36]

During the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, following the shooting and death of three men in Kenosha, WI, Sabatini tweeted "KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR CONGRESS." [37]

"Cancel culture" and the media

Sabatini has made multiple critical statements of "cancel culture", tweeting that, "If Socrates was out philosophizing in American society today, he would be cancelled real quick". [38] He has called for repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, arguing that it allows online platforms to remove conservative perspectives. [39]

COVID-19

In July 2020, a Florida resident filed an ethics complaint against Sabatini in connection with his involvement in several mask mandate lawsuits. [40] The complaint was in response to a press release about the lawsuit that printed Sabatini's official House email address as the press contact and alleged that this violates a Florida State Statute about misuse of public position. [40]

Sabatini has filed at least 14 lawsuits during the COVID-19 pandemic challenging local ordinances requiring the use of face coverings. [41] On September 2, 2020, he received his sixth loss from the filed suits that have so far been heard. [42]

Donald Trump

Sabatini has proposed renaming the Florida section of U.S. Route 27 the "President Donald J. Trump Highway". [43] During Trump's reelection bid announcement in Orlando on June 18, 2019, a rally goer attacked an Orlando Sentinel reporter filming the event. The reporter tweeted the encounter, to which Sabatini replied "MAGA". for which he was again criticized for supporting violence. [44]

Sabatini has repeatedly supported Republican attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden. He has repeated disproven conspiracy theories about the election, and has called for audits of the results in Hillsborough County, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Orange County. [45]

Following the FBI's August 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago, Sabatini said Florida should "sever all ties with DOJ immediately" and added that "any FBI agent conducting law enforcement functions outside the purview of our State should be arrested upon sight". [46]

Supreme Court

Sabatini criticized President Joe Biden's pledge to nominate a Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court following Justice Stephen Breyer's announcement that he would retire, tweeting, "Biden MUST be impeached for his anti-white racist exclusion of any white nominee to the Supreme Court". [47] [48]

Electoral history

Anthony Sabatini
Anthony Sabatini.jpg
Member of the FloridaHouseofRepresentatives
from the 32nd district
In office
November 6, 2018 –November 8, 2022
2016 Eustis City Commission Seat 2
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Anthony Sabatini 3,414 46.1
Nonpartisan Brandon Avallone1,18616
Nonpartisan Michael Strong2,80437.8
Total votes7,404
2018 Florida House of Representatives 32nd district Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Anthony Sabatini 8,278 46.7
Republican Shannon Elswick5,17029.2
Republican Monica Wofford4,27624.1
Total votes17,724 100.00
2018 Florida House of Representatives 32nd district
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Anthony Sabatini 46,446 56.5
Democratic Cynthia Brown35,78443.5
2020 Florida House of Representatives 32nd district
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Anthony Sabatini 63,164 55.7
Democratic Stephanie Dukes50,22644.3
2022 Florida's 7th Congressional District Republican primary [49]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Cory Mills 27,452 38.1%
Republican Anthony Sabatini 17,059 23.6%
Republican Brady Duke11,01015.3%
Republican Ted Edwards4,1975.8%
Republican Russell Roberts3,9705.5%
Republican Erika Benfield3,9125.4%
Republican Scott Sturgill3,0554.2%
Republican Al Santos1,4802.1%

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References

  1. ↑ "Anthony Frank Sabatini - Florida Candidate". Transparency USA. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "District map at www.myfloridahouse.gov website" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ Brice-Saddler, Michael (February 7, 2019). "A politician wore blackface to dress as his friend. They call it a 'silly high school prank.'". The Washington Post . Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  4. ↑ Lemongello, Steven (February 5, 2019). "State Rep. Anthony Sabatini dismisses Florida Democratic chair's call for his resignation over high school 'blackface' photo". The Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  5. ↑ Wolf, Colin (February 7, 2019). "Photo appears to show Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who's still dealing with a blackface scandal, wearing brownface". Orlando Weekly . Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  6. ↑ Lemongello, Steven (February 15, 2019). "Rookie Rep. Anthony Sabatini draws fire from GOP leader, critics. The session hasn't even started yet". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Florida House of Representatives - Anthony Sabatini - 2018 - 2020 ( Speaker Oliva )". myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  8. ↑ McNiff, Tom (May 1, 2018). "Sabatini steps down from Eustis Commission". Daily Commercial. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  9. ↑ https://www.dailycommercial.com/story/news/local/eustis/2018/05/29/eustis-names-former-mayor-holland-to-fill-sabatinis-seat/12102091007/
  10. ↑ https://floridapolitics.com/archives/576216-anthony-sabatini-wins-lake-gop-chair/
  11. ↑ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Florida Election Watch - State Representative". floridaelectionwatch.gov. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ Ellwood, Karina (April 18, 2019). "Florida lawmaker proposes amendment to make The Swamp Restaurant a landmark". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  14. ↑ Marr, Madeline (April 19, 2019). "Popular Gator Nation bar The Swamp faces wrecking ball. Lawmaker joins fight to save it". Miami Herald . Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  15. ↑ Richardson, Kalia (December 13, 2020). "The Swamp restaurant to return to Gainesville in new location". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  16. ↑ Lipscomb, Jessica (February 4, 2020). "Nonbinary Broward Candidate Confronts Florida Rep Sponsoring Anti-Trans Bill". Miami New Times . Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  17. ↑ Patrick, Craig (December 29, 2020). "Florida lawmaker confident legislature will allow guns on college campuses". Fox13news.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini shoots for 'campus carry' concealed gun permits yet again in 2021 session". Orlando Weekly . The News Service of Florida. December 4, 2020. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Anthony Sabatini pulls trigger on 'campus carry' legislation". Floridapolitics.com. November 30, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  20. ↑ Solochek, Jeffrey S. (January 21, 2020). "Florida lawmakers renew push for school board term limits". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Florida lawmaker files another school board term limit proposal". WJXT. December 1, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  22. ↑ Saunders, Jim (January 29, 2020). "Florida House Republicans are pushing for term limits on county school-board members". Orlando Weekly . News Service of Florida. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  23. ↑ Sartoris, Katie. "School board term limits one step closer to the voters". Daily Commercial. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  24. ↑ Rousseau, Beth (January 16, 2021). "Florida lawmaker pushes ban on red light cameras". WFLA. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Rep. Sabatini files bill again to abolish red-light cameras in Florida". Orlando Sentinel . December 7, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  26. ↑ Synan, Mike (April 10, 2018). "Anthony Sabatini Wants to Eliminate Red Light Cameras for Good". Florida Daily. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  27. ↑ Fineout, Gary (March 8, 2021). "Pro-Trump Florida state lawmaker to challenge Webster". Politico . Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  28. ↑ Lemongello, Steven (June 8, 2021). "Anthony Sabatini says he will run for Congress against Stephanie Murphy". Orlando Sentinel .
  29. ↑ "Florida Seventh Congressional District Primary Election Results". The New York Times. August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  30. ↑ Gipson, Rod; Elmhorst, Rick (April 6, 2022). "Packing Heat: Will Florida be the next constitutional carry state?". www.baynews9.com. Bay News 9. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  31. ↑ Wildman, Asher. "Constitutional carry would make Florida 25th permitless state for guns". www.mynews13.com. MyNews13. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  32. ↑ "GOP Rep. Anthony Sabatini Pushes 'Constitutional Carry' Special Session". miami.cbslocal.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  33. ↑ Lipscomb, Jessica (June 2, 2020). "Hialeah lawmaker says colleague's AR-15 tweet was inciting violence". Miami New Times . Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  34. ↑ Haughey, John (June 2, 2020). "Freshman Florida state representative under fire for 'openly calling for violence'". Washington Examiner . Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  35. ↑ Lemongello, Steven (May 31, 2020). "Lake County GOP Rep. Sabatini posts picture of AR15 rifle directed at protesters". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  36. ↑ Gancarski, A. G. (May 30, 2020). "'Thugs' drive Florida House Twitter beef". Florida Politics. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  37. ↑ Sabatini, Anthony (November 21, 2020). "KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR CONGRESS". Twitter. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  38. ↑ Knowles, Hannah (May 22, 2021). "A Florida Republican says Socrates would be canceled today. The philosopher faced a different fate: Execution". Fernandina Observer. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  39. ↑ Haughey, John (September 10, 2021). "Sabatini vows to be first Florida lawmaker to file a 'Texas Heartbeat Bill'". Fernandina Observer. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  40. 1 2 Schorsch, Peter (July 29, 2020). "Anthony Sabatini faces ethics complaint in connection to mask lawsuits". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  41. ↑ Tatham, Chelsea (August 3, 2020). "Florida lawmaker files lawsuit against Manatee County, one of 14 lawsuits against mask mandates". wtsp.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Judge sides with DeLand over Anthony Sabatini in mask lawsuit". Florida Politics. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Rep. Sabatini calls for renaming U.S. 27 the Donald J. Trump Highway".
  44. ↑ Bever, Lindsey; Iati, Marisa (February 19, 2019). "A Trump supporter was arrested after smacking a reporter's phone. 'MAGA,' a GOP lawmaker responded". The Washington Post . Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  45. ↑ Gilbraith, Alex (July 26, 2021). "Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini calls for presidential election audit of Orange County, among others". Orlando Weekly . Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  46. ↑ Kilander, Gustaf (August 9, 2022). "Florida lawmaker calls for arrest of FBI agents and for state to 'sever all ties with DOJ immediately'". The Independent . Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  47. ↑ Sabatini, Anthony [@AnthonySabatini] (January 27, 2022). "Biden MUST be impeached for his anti-white racist exclusion of any white nominee to the Supreme Court" (Tweet). Retrieved January 30, 2022– via Twitter.
  48. ↑ Bazzle, Steph (January 27, 2022). "GOP Rep Wants Biden Impeached For "Anti-White Racist Exclusion" On SCOTUS". Hill Reporter. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  49. ↑ "Florida's 7th Congressional district election". Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
Florida House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 32nd district
2018–2022		Succeeded by
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